Professor Finbar O'Callaghan

Consultant Paediatric Neurologist, Great Ormond Street Hospital (London) PhD, MSc, FRPCH, FRCP

I am a Professor in Paediatric Neuroscience at the Institute of Child Health, University College London and have been a Consultant Paediatric Neurologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) since 2013. Prior to this, I was a consultant at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children (BRHC) for 10 years. I have led the Bath TSC clinic since 2006, having joined in 1992 to complete my PhD with Professor John Osborne. I have led the GOSH TSC clinic since 2013.

My research interests are in TSC, infantile epilepsy and childhood stroke, with particular emphasis on epidemiology and clinical trials. I was the Chief Investigator of the International Collaborative Infantile Spasm Study (ICISS) and the Metformin in TSC (MiTS) trial. I am also the Secretary for the European Paediatric Neurology Society and President-elect of the British Paediatric Neurology Association.

In my spare time I enjoy supporting Manchester United and have previously played rugby.

Please note: Prof O'Callaghan does a monthly TSC clinic in Bath.

Dr Andrew Havers

Andrew Havers is delighted to be joining the TSC team. He was a GP partner in Keynsham for 28 years and has held a number of medical leadership and government advisory roles during his career.

Outside work he is a keen opera singer and also enjoys escaping to Cornwall with his partner Bronwen, a physiotherapist with over 25 years service to the RUH.

Dr Ron Loh

Consultant Paediatrician with a Special Interest in Neurology (Cardiff)
MB BCh, MSc, MRCPCH ,BAO, DCH, DTM&H.

I qualified in Ireland and undertook paediatric specialist training in London, Bristol and then a neurology Fellowship in Australia.

I have a specialist interest in TSC, epilepsy and headache disorders. I was previously lead for Rare Diseases for the Genome Project and Academy Paediatrics. I am also a Consultant Paediatrician at the Noah's Ark Children's Hospital Cardiff.

In my spare time I enjoy an occasional round of golf.

Kirsten Slaney

I qualified as a nurse in 1999 and my first job was with adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities. I then worked with children and young people with learning disabilities first in a child development centre and then as a community nurse in Surrey, where I completed a Master's degree in Advanced Practice (Community Care). I relocated to the West Country in 2015 and became part of the TSC Team. My interests are in learning disabilities, behaviour management and sleep issues.

I have two young children who occupy much of my spare time but I also enjoy music, reading and ballroom dancing!

Sally Hammacott

I have worked in the NHS for most of my working life, starting at the Royal Free Hospital, London. I have worked within primary, secondary and community Health settings in various roles as a Receptionist, Medical Secretary, Project Officer and most recently managing the day to day running of a Community interpretation and advocacy Service for Bristol patients for whom English is their second Language, and also supporting the Community Nursing Teams across Bristol with various initiatives and training. I also spent two years working front line/patient facing with a Nurse Lead Rapid Response Team in North Somerset. I am really thrilled to have this opportunity to be part of this fantastic team.

Dr Farzana Hakim

Having qualified from the University of Cambridge in 2007, I completed my Foundation Training in East Anglia, before moving West for Paediatrics training. After four years, I decided to retrain as a GP. I now split my time between the two specialities and have been part of the TSC team since October 2016.

My interests are in general paediatrics and adult medicine, women's health and contraception and medical student teaching.

In my spare time, I enjoy live music, festivals (I have also been a medic at Glastonbury Festival since 2010), learning French and sign language.

Please note: Farzana has stepped down from her role in June 2019 - see our News Section.